MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Executive Boards

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for Women what estimate she has made of the percentage of members of executive boards that are women in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Union.

Patricia Hewitt: Research for the Higgs Review on the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors, published on 20 January, showed that in the FTSE-100, women represent three per cent of executive directors.
	I am not able to provide a figure for the European Union as we do not hold information across each EU country which are comparable.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft Pilots

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to permit aircraft pilots to carry arms during flights.

David Jamieson: There are no plans to permit pilots of commercial aircraft to carry arms during flights.

Aviation Fuel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks are carried out to ensure that aviation fuel has not been dumped over land for reasons other than emergencies.

David Jamieson: Aviation fuel is an expensive commodity and, other than in an emergency, there is no reason why pilots or airlines would want to jettison it. The Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, "Aviation and the Global Atmosphere" (1999 citing research from 1994) indicates that most of the small amount of fuel that is jettisoned at low altitude in the troposphere evaporates while it falls.

Congestion Charges

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 523W, on congestion charges, when he intends to provide a uniform minimum standard of exemptions or concessions; whether the exemptions or concessions will be backdated to 17 February; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 31 January 2003
	We will consult on the scope of a uniform minimum standard of exemptions and concessions in due course once we have had an opportunity to take into account the experiences gained from road user charging schemes in London and Durham.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002.

David Jamieson: pursuant to the answer, 16 January 2003, Official Report, c. 698W
	My Department was formed on 29 May 2002. Expenditure on external consultants by my Department during the remainder of 2002 was £91.4 million.

First North Western Trains

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail season ticket holders have had to suffer cancellations because of the withdrawal of services by First North Western Trains in the last 12 months.

David Jamieson: This information is not available.

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway closed south of junction 11 on 27 January; and on whose authority it was closed.

John Spellar: The police directed that the Ml Motorway be closed at this point following a serious accident involving an articulated lorry and four cars. Diversion routes were set up along the A5 and A505.

Network Rail

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority regarding remuneration packages for directors of Network Rail; what will be the (a) minimum and (b) maximum remuneration for Network Rail directors; and what is the maximum amount that directors will receive as severance.

David Jamieson: None, as this is primarily a matter for Network Rail.

Pilots (Alcohol/Drug Abuse)

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents have been recorded of people in charge of aeroplanes being apprehended for (a) alcohol and (b) drugs abuse in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The Civil Aviation Authority's Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR) scheme requires the reporting of incidents resulting in flight crew incapacitation within the UK or on UK registered aircraft. Prior to the recently reported incident in Sweden, a search of the database has revealed only one confirmed incident in the past five years where the pilot of an aircraft has been arrested in connection with the consumption of alcohol. This occurred following a private aircraft accident in 1998. The pilot failed a voluntary police breath test—at the road traffic limit—shortly after the accident and was subsequently prosecuted. The MOR database also records two fatal air crashes during this period, where the resulting post mortem examinations revealed the presence of alcohol and/or drugs in the bodies of the pilots.

Street Lighting

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to open up to competition the connection of street lighting.

Brian Wilson: At present connections of street lighting columns can only be undertaken by Distribution Network Operators. Ofgem is taking this matter forward. Ofgem's intention is to permit local authorities to hire contractors directly to undertake jointing of street lighting columns to distribution networks. The development of a "contractor competence registration scheme" should facilitate the introduction of true competition by independent contractors working on behalf of local authorities.
	I recently introduced a new regulation, (regulation 25) to The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 which addresses issues around public safety and network integrity which facilitates competition in connections for street lighting and other applications.

Untaxed Cars

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the notices issued by police for untaxed cars in each of the last five years were the subject of prosecutions by the DVLA.

David Jamieson: DVLA only holds information on enforcement results from 1999–2000. Some cases are settled out of court by way of payment of a penalty. The number of reports received from police and traffic wardens of successful completions were as follows:
	
		
			  Received Prosecutions Out of court payments 
		
		
			 1999–2000 1,074,916 188,689 165,658 
			 2000–01 945,301 179,779 165,836 
			 2001–02 931,806 192,671 165,252 
			 2002–03 (January) 705,653 161,777 118,166 
		
	
	Many of the reports received were either duplicate for the same vehicle or relate to vehicles which are already taxed (but not displaying a disc).

DEFENCE

Anti-Terrorist Operations

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what strategic assessment he has made of the role of armed small craft in anti-terrorist operations in (a) home and (b) foreign waters.

Adam Ingram: None. Naval vessels have not been developed to counter specific terrorist threats but provide capabilities of wide utility in potential counter-terrorism operations at home and overseas. Small armed craft are employed when necessary. The Strategic Defence Review: New Chapter, published in July 2002, set out the Ministry of Defence's strategic thinking on how to counter international terrorism both at home and abroad. It looked again at Ministry of Defence's posture and plans to ensure that there are the right concepts, the right capabilities and the right forces to meet the additional challenges of international terrorism within the land, sea and air environments. It stated that "we will continue to keep under close review and, where appropriate, make adjustments to, our arrangements to counter ship-borne threats".

Civilian Staff (Colchester)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians are employed at the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester; and how many are in receipt of the prison environmental allowance.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 560W.

Civilian Staff (Colchester)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to help find alternative employment for civilian employees at Colchester Garrison who are expected to be made redundant in the event of troops being deployed overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has no plans to make any of its civilian staff employed at Colchester Garrison redundant because of the deployment of troops based there. It is not appropriate for me to comment on decisions that are the responsibility of our contractors, but we are in discussion with them.

Depleted Uranium

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effects of depleted uranium munitions on (a) UK troops and (b) the local population of the Gulf.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 466W to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn).

Depleted Uranium

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring procedures have been put in place to assess depleted uranium in blood and urine.

Lewis Moonie: The Royal Society reports on "The Health Hazards of Depleted Uranium Munitions" consider three levels of exposure to DU:
	Level I—exposures to personnel in a vehicle that is struck by a DU penetrator, or to personnel entering a struck vehicle immediately, typically to assist injured comrades.
	Level II—exposures following combat, typically to personnel working in or on contaminated vehicles to carry out repairs.
	Level III—all other exposures, for example, being downwind of an impact or fire involving DU, or brief entry into contaminated vehicles.
	The Ministry of Defence accepts these definitions, but in recognition of some veterans' concerns, has extended the definition of Level III personnel to include everyone in a military theatre of operations where DU is likely to have been used.
	All those considered to have received a Level I or Level II exposure while in theatre (according to the Royal Society definitions) will be advised to accept testing for uranium exposure. All other troops in theatre will also have the opportunity to be tested for uranium exposure if they wish.
	MOD's full policy for biological monitoring for depleted uranium (DU) on current and future operations is published on MOD's internet site at: http://www. mod.uk/issues/depleted(uranium/du(biomonitoring/htm.
	As part of the public consultation process on provision of a screening programme for estimating DU exposure, it was agreed that a urine test would be more appropriate than a blood test. This is also in accordance with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) guidance on personal monitoring. Their recommendations are for monitoring of urine of faeces or for monitoring the lungs by whole body counting. There is therefore no requirement for blood to be monitored.

Depleted Uranium

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many depleted uranium shells will be test-fired during the trials commencing on 3 February at Dundrennan Range.

Lewis Moonie: Up to 192 rounds will be fired. The exact number will be determined as the firing programme progresses.

Depleted Uranium

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to monitor the environmental impact of shells testing during the week starting 3 February at Dundrennan Range;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on environmental impact testing undertaken at Dundrennan Range which continues to monitor the effect of depleted uranium shells test-firing.

Lewis Moonie: These firings will be subject to the same environmental monitoring programmes that have been in place at Kirkcudbright ever since the beginning of the Depleted Uranium munitions trials announced in the House in 1979. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 March 2002, Official Report, column 313W to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce).

Depleted Uranium

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions have taken place with the Health and Safety Executive over the effects of test-firing depleted uranium shells.

Lewis Moonie: No recent discussions have taken place with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over the effects of test-firing depleted uranium (DU) shells. All firings are subject to regulation under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, which are enforced by the HSE. The HSE needs only to be notified if a new process is used; the processes used for firing DU have not changed since the firing programme began. HSE representatives last visited Kirkcudbright range in January 2001 and confirmed they were content with the health and safety arrangements for firing DU.

Kosovo

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are serving in Kosovo.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom currently has some 1,400 troops serving in Kosovo.

Means-tested Benefits

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed services personnel and their families receive (a) income support and (b) other means-tested benefits.

Lewis Moonie: This information is not held by the Ministry of Defence since the claiming of any benefits by eligible Service personnel is a private matter for the individuals concerned. However, in the case of Income Support, I understand that the website of the Department for Work and Pensions outlines the eligibility criteria for this benefit, including the condition that applicants must work, on average, less than 16 hours a week. It seems improbable therefore that any regular Service personnel would be eligible to claim Income Support.

Merchant Shipping (Gulf)

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names and flag states of the merchant ships chartered in support of the current military deployment in the Mediterranean and Gulf regions.

Adam Ingram: Some 53 vessels have now been chartered for use in the Mediterranean/Gulf regions. The numbers and flag states are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 8 
			 Isle of Man 1 
			 The Netherlands 3 
			 Bermuda 2 
			 Panama 1 
			 Greece 1 
			 Sweden 2 
			 Spain 3 
			 Malta 8 
			 Egypt 1 
			 St. Vincent 4 
			 Liberia 1 
			 Cayman I 2 
			 Bahamas 3 
			 Turkey 3 
			 Italy 2 
			 Cyprus 1 
			 Denmark 1 
			 Marshall I 2 
			 Canada 1 
			 Antigua 3 
		
	
	I am withholding the information requested on the names of the merchant vessels involved, under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, due to the overriding need to maintain force protection.

RAF

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many land-based aircraft for (a) strike/attack and (b) offensive support the Royal Air Force has owned in each year from 1980–81 to 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Service Pay

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  in what circumstances station specific pay can be withdrawn from a member of the armed forces when they are temporarily assigned to another duty station;
	(2)  whether any member of the armed forces will (a) lose station specific pay and (b) receive less pay as a result of serving in the Gulf.

Lewis Moonie: The only remuneration that is affected by temporary deployments is Local Overseas Allowance (LOA), which is a non-taxable allowance paid to compensate Service personnel for the necessary extra cost of living overseas.
	When personnel are temporarily deployed away from their permanent LOA earning duty station, they no longer incur the full range of additional costs associated with that station. However, it is accepted that they still have ongoing financial commitments overseas and that many have families who remain at the permanent duty station. Consequently all Service personnel continue to receive the full LOA rate for the first 17 days of their deployment. Additionally married accompanied personnel continue to receive their full LOA rate unless their accompanying spouse also leaves the permanent duty station for more than 17 days at which point an abatement of approximately 35% is applied. Single and married unaccompanied personnel lose 20% of their fall LOA rate after the first 17 days.
	No Service personnel will receive less basic pay as a result of serving in the Gulf.

Territorial Army Medical Services

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army Medical Services are being deployed; what percentage this represents; how many of these are from the field hospitals and how many are from the medical squadrons and field ambulances; what percentage this represents in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Currently, call up notices have been issued to 202 members of the Territorial Army Medical Services, for possible deployment in support of Op. TELIC. This represents less than 7 per cent. of the Doctors, Nurses and Combat Medical Technicians within the Army Medical Services TA units.
	158 personnel have been called up from field hospital units, representing less than 5 per cent. of our relevant TA strength, as well as 44 personnel from medical squadrons, which represents 7.4 per cent. of the total of TA personnel within those units. No call up notices have been issued to personnel from field ambulance units.

Tomahawk

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tomahawk submarine-commanded cruise missiles have been acquired for the Royal Navy in each of the past five years.

Adam Ingram: Two bulk purchases of Tomahawk cruise missiles for the Royal Navy have been made. The first batch of 65 was delivered in the years 1991 to 1999 and the second batch of 20 was delivered in the years 2000 and 2001. A third batch of 22 missiles was ordered in early 2002 and these are due to be delivered between September 2003 and April 2004.

Water Abstraction Boreholes

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many water abstraction boreholes (a) in use and (b) licensed but not in use there are on MOD land in (i) Salisbury District, (ii) Kennet District and (iii) West Wiltshire District; and what the six-figure grid references are for each borehole.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 6 February 2003
	Project Aquatrine (which will provide water and waste-water services to the Ministry of Defence) has information on 24 boreholes in use, plus one borehole used on an emergency basis; and no boreholes that are licensed but not in use. There may be additional boreholes on Ministry of Defence land, but this information is not held centrally.
	I am withholding the locations in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

West Freugh Airfield

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects an announcement to be made on redundancies at West Freugh airfield and range.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence are currently engaged in negotiations with QinetiQ for a Long Term Partnering Agreement for the provision of Test and Evaluation services. Subject to a satisfactory conclusion to the negotiations, any announcement on redundancies will be a matter for QinetiQ.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has discussed with President Bush the issue of oil reserves in Iraq.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) during my statement to the House on 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 38.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Domestic Violence

Julie Morgan: To ask the Solicitor General what guidance she gives to the Crown Prosecution Service about consulting victims of domestic violence about decisions relating to the prosecutions.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 6 February 2003
	I regularly have discussions with the DPP, CPS policy lead on domestic violence and the Area Domestic Violence Co-ordinators about the CPS policy on the prosecution of cases of domestic violence.
	The revised domestic violence policy and the guidance issued to prosecutors in November 2001 contain many references to the importance of consultation and seeking the views of the victim. For example, they provide that: consultation and support may be needed to make the prosecution process less difficult for victims; information from the police should be regularly updated with particular emphasis on the victim's/children's safety and views expressed by the victim.
	In addition, as in any non-domestic violence case, the Code for Crown Prosecutors requires prosecutors to take into account views expressed by the victim. Consultation may also take place: in accordance with the Attorney-General's guidelines when the prosecution is considering a plea to a lesser charge; or, as part of the Direct Communication with Victims initiative; or, by way of a Victim Personal Statement.

Mrs. Sally Clark

George Osborne: To ask the Solicitor General what plans she has to investigate the handling by the Crown Prosecution Service of the case of Mrs. Sally Clark.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 6 February 2003
	The Court of Appeal has yet to give its detailed judgement in the case of Sally Clark. I will consider whether further investigation into the handling of the case by the CPS is appropriate when I have had the opportunity to study the full Court of Appeal judgment.

Suicide Act

James Plaskitt: To ask the Solicitor-General when the Director of Public Prosecutions will publish her policy on the criteria which she applies when exercising her discretion under section 2(4) of the Suicide Act 1961.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 27 January 2003
	Proceedings under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 are reviewed in exactly the same manner as any other prosecution. The decision to prosecute and the Director's decision as to whether he grants consent are taken in the light of all of the evidence available following the investigation conducted by the police, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The code can be viewed at www.cps.gov.uk.
	Section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 is an offence for which the DPP's consent is required before a prosecution can commence.

Suicide Act

Patsy Calton: To ask the Solicitor-General what processes will be used to achieve clarification of policy, and to produce guidelines, with respect to section 2(4) of the Suicide Act 1961.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 4 February 2003
	Proceedings under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 are reviewed in exactly the same manner as any other prosecution. The decision to prosecute and the Director's decision as to whether he grants consent are taken in the light of all of the evidence available following the investigation conducted by the police, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The code can be viewed at www.cps.gov.uk.
	Section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 is an offence for which the DPP's consent is required before a prosecution can commence.

Tom Sugden

Janet Anderson: To ask the Solicitor-General on how many occasions the trial of Tom Sugden at Burnley Crown Court was adjourned; what the reasons were for the adjournments; why the trial was abandoned on Monday 13 January; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 27 January 2003
	The trial of Thomas Sugden was concluded at Burnley Crown Court on 13 January 2003 having been adjourned on three previous occasions.
	On 14 February 2002, the first occasion, the prosecution applied for an adjournment of the trial due to the unavailability of three prosecution witnesses, two of whom were sick and one who was working abroad. The case was re-listed to be heard during the week commencing 8 April 2002. The second adjournment was generated by the Crown Court at Burnley, in common with other Crown Courts in the country closing as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen Mother. The matter was briefly mentioned at court on 17 April 2002, when a judicial direction was given that the matter be placed in the court list for 1 July 2002.
	The third adjournment was due to a civilian prosecution witness failing to attend to give evidence on the scheduled start date for trial of 2 July 2002. The reason provided to the court was that she was unwell and anxious as she was, at this time, heavily pregnant. A sick note to cover her absence was produced. The prosecution had indicated that they would proceed without this witness but defence counsel indicated that he wished to cross examine this witness and her attendance was therefore essential. The other prosecution witnesses who were distressed by the need to adjourn again were given full explanations which were personally conveyed to them by representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service.
	Following two pre-trial reviews at which the availability and willingness of witnesses to attend were resolved, the matter was adjourned to a further trial date of 13 January 2003. One of the reasons for so lengthy an adjournment was because of the expected date of confinement of the above mentioned prosecution witness.
	The matter commenced on 13 January 2003 before His Honour Judge Cornwall at Burnley Crown Court. The principal prosecution witness gave her evidence. The trial Judge expressed his concern in relation to this evidence, and the Crown reviewed the case. In the light of these developments it became apparent that the proceedings would be unlikely to generate a realistic prospect of a conviction and the case was therefore terminated. Prosecuting Counsel held an immediate conference with the the prosecution witnesses explaining to them why such a step had had to be taken.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average maintenance payment made under the Child Support Acts by husbands whose ex-wives are (a) on benefits and (b) in work was in each of the last three years.

Malcolm Wicks: Information to answer this question is not available in the form requested. The available information is in the table.
	
		Average maintenance payment by non-resident parents to parents with care, by the status of the parent with care -- £ per week
		
			 Parent with care status 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Parent with care in receipt of benefit  
			 Income support 5.63 5.95 5.79 
			 Family credit 8.56 — — 
			 Job seekers allowance (income based) 3.44 3.26 3.84 
			 Parent with care not in receipt of benefit
			 Others 9.45 9.80 9.91 
			 Working families tax credit 11.00 12.92 13.40 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are taken from 5 per cent. samples of all live and assessed cases of quarterly scans of the CSCS and so are subject to sampling variation.
	2. Figures are for full maintenance assessments only.
	3. Both regular and arrear accounts have been used.
	4. The averages take account of cases assessed at zero.
	5. The averages also take account of cases assessed to pay maintenance, but where payments are not made.
	6. Figures do not include direct pay cases.
	7. The status is taken as the status of the parent with care at the end of the financial
	year.
	8. The years used for analysis are financial years (April-March).
	9. The "Others" and WFTC category contain employed cases.

HEALTH

Blood Therapies

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when The Appropriate Use of Blood working group will publish its report on the use of alternative blood therapies in place of transfusing blood.

Hazel Blears: The National Blood Service appropriate use of blood group has continued to gather evidence on alternatives to blood, bloodless surgery and autologous blood transfusion. A report is to be produced by spring 2003 for consideration by the group and the Chief Medical Officer's National Blood Transfusion Committee. Appropriate recommendations for a future strategy will then be developed. This information will be made widely available on the Internet, to relevant individuals and organisations and promulgated through the regional and hospital transfusion committee structure.

Broadband

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) GP surgeries, (b) hospitals, (c) primary care trusts and (d) health authorities have broadband access; and what targets have been set for full broadband access in each case.

Hazel Blears: Information on the number of broadband access connections are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
		
		
			 General practitioner practices 157 out of 8,519 connections 0.02 
			 Hospital trusts 345 out of 726 connections 47 
			 Primary care trusts 77 out of 284 connections 27 
			 Health authorities 108 out of 562 connections 19 
		
	
	These figures relate to connections only, not directly to the organisations themselves, as it is common for health authorities and trusts to have multiple connections. These can be for connections between different sites or multiple connections to the same sites. Information broken down by specific trust or HA is not collected centrally.
	Under the existing framework contracts with the NHSnet suppliers, connections to GP practices in England are being upgraded to 256Kbps where they do not already have it. Trust and health authority connections are being upgraded to 2MBps where they do not already have it, or better. The target for completion of this exercise is March 2004.
	As part of the Government's "21st Century IT" strategy for the national health service, it is planned to replace the existing networking arrangements with a new national broadband infrastructure for the NHS in England in 2006–07.

Dystonia

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he collates as to the incidence of dystonia, and the costs and development of treatments for this condition.

Jacqui Smith: The Department of Health does not routinely collect statistics on the prevalence of individual conditions like dystonia nor on the costs and development of treatments for them. The Dystonia Society however, estimates that around 38,000 people in the United Kingdom currently have the condition.

Epilepsy

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations made in the National Sentinel Audit of Epilepsy-Related Death published in May 2002; what steps have been taken to develop the action plan announced in September; when he expects the action plan to be launched; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: In May 2002, we welcomed the publication of National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) sponsored national clinical audit of epilepsy-related death. The audit looked at investigations into epilepsy deaths, care provided prior to death and contact with bereaved families. The audit report draws the attention of local national health service clinicians and organisations to the need to establish or review policies and practicesregarding the management of epilepsy and epilepsy related deaths.
	We have given a commitment to consider in full the key findings and recommendations of the audit and to develop an action plan to address the key issues. We have consulted the epilepsy voluntary organisations during its development and expect to publish the action plan shortly. It will take account of two major pieces of work currently in development:
	The national service framework for long term conditions, which is expected to develop standards of care for people with neurological conditions such as epilepsy. We currently plan to publish this framework in 2004 and to start implementation in 2005.
	NICE work on a clinical and cost effectiveness appraisal of new anti-epilepsy drugs in children and adults, which is due in autumn 2003. This will be supported by a clinical guideline for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy which is due in June 2004. These will help address any variations in clinical practice and contribute to the improvement of services.
	We are additionally supporting the improvement of epilepsy services in different ways. We have:
	Developed the expert patients programme, which aims to provide training in self- management skills for people with long term chronic conditions.
	Provided £71,000 to the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC) to develop its "National Statement of Good Practice for the Treatment and Care of People who have Epilepsy", which was published in May 2002. The statement makes a series of recommendations for good quality epilepsy services. It is intended to facilitate commissioning and will be of use to NHS purchasers, providers and service users.
	Agreed to provide £122,000 over three years to the National Society for Epilepsy for its "Living Well Project". The project aims to promote independent living by providing locally based short-term courses for people with epilepsy to develop self-help and self-management techniques.

Framework for Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that the National Service Framework for Children includes standards for the development of neurological head injury and spinal services for children.

Jacqui Smith: The national service framework for children, young people and maternity services will raise standards of care for children with all medical conditions.
	To illustrate this a small number of exemplars will be developed, although no decision has been made on the all conditions being covered.

Health Protection Agency

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the terms and conditions to be offered to new recruits in the Health Protection Agency after 1 April will be determined.

Hazel Blears: Subject to legislation, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) will be established as a special health authority on 1 April 2003, and new staff employed by the HPA as from 1 April will commence employment on National Health Service terms and conditions using local pay and grading arrangements.

Heart Transplants

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many heart transplant operations took place in NHS hospitals in 2000.

David Lammy: The number of heart-only transplants undertaken in United Kingdom National Health Service hospitals in 2000 was 204. The number of heart/lung transplants undertaken in UK NHS hospitals in 2000 was 33.

Hospital Readmissions (Hull and East Riding)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were re-admitted to hospital as emergency cases after being discharged in Hull and the East Riding in 2002; and what the national average was for such re-admissions in 2002.

Jacqui Smith: The rate of emergency re-admissions to hospital within 28 days of discharge (all ages), as a percentage of live discharges, age and sex standardised, was 7.14 per cent. for Hull and East Yorkshire hospitals trust in 2001, compared with 6.11 per cent. nationally (all England).
	Source of Information:
	These figures are taken from the NHS Trust Performance ratings data on the NHS Performance ratings and indicators 2002 website at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/performanceratings/2002/downl

Lymphoedema

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources his Department has committed to lymphoedema prevention campaigns in the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: We have committed no specific resources to lymphoedema prevention campaigns in the last three years.

Lymphoedema

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospital trusts in England which have lymphoedema departments.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the detailed configuration of local hospitals trusts and the services they provide is not held centrally.

Lymphoedema

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to hospital trusts and PCTs on the provision of services to lymphoedema sufferers.

Jacqui Smith: We have issued no specific guidance to hospital trusts and primary care trusts for the provision of services to lymphoedema sufferers. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has, however, recently updated the "Improving Outcomes in Breast Cancer Guidance", and that guidance made some recommendations about lymphoedema.
	The guidance recommends that cancer networks should agree guidelines for identification and management of lymphoedema and that a lymphoedema service, staffed by nurses and physiotherapists who have experience in dealing with this problem, should be available for all patients who experience arm swelling or discomfort.

Lymphoedema

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many lymphoedema sufferers there are in England; and how many of them are receiving treatment from the NHS.

Jacqui Smith: The Department of Health does not routinely collect statistics on the prevalence of individual conditions like lymphoedema. We do have data on the number of finished consultant episodes (FCE) where the main diagnosis is lymphoedema. An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within a year.
	
		FCE by main diagnosis Lymphoedema (ICD10 code I89) NHS hospitals England 1995–96 to 2000–01
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			 1995–96 2,401 
			 1996–97 2,260 
			 1997–98 2,157 
			 1998–99 2,326 
			 1999–2000 2,049 
			 2000–01 1,873

Medium-Secure Units

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per patient per week of (a) a place in an NHS medium-secure unit and (b) a place purchased by the NHS in a medium-secure unit in the independent sector was in the last period for which both figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 6 February 2003
	The latest available figures on the average cost per week, at 31 December 2001, indicate that the cost of a place in a national health service medium-secure unit ranges from £1,390 to £2,750 per week. A place purchased by the NHS in a medium-secure unit in the independent sector ranges from £2,450 to £3,220 per week.

National Service Framework

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the procedures in place to ensure that accurate figures are being obtained on which to monitor the milestones for the National Service Framework for Older People; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 January 2003
	"Improvement Expansion and Reform", the priorities and planning framework for 2003–06 has the main milestones on stroke, falls, mental health and intermediate care services as key targets. Progress will be closely monitored. Other aspects of the national service framework will be monitored through existing information collections, discussions with the field and through a network of older people national health service and social care leads.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people applied to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council during 2002; what the average waiting time for applications to be processed is; how many applications have been subject to a delay in processing; and what measures are being taken to reduce delays in the application process.

John Hutton: Since 1 April 2002 to present date the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has received 88,013 applications for registration.
	The normal target processing times for applications for registration are 21 working days for United Kingdom applicants and 108 working days for overseas applicants.
	Applications received since 1 April 2002 may have been delayed due to the problems encountered by the new council. However, it is not possible to quantify the exact number of applications which experienced some form of delay. The NMC is taking steps to improve the information which can be obtained from the new system.
	The NMC has taken action to resolve the issues including improving communications, targeting resources to tackle the backlogs and undertaking a review of systems and processes to continue improvements in the registration process.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Crime Prevention (Wandsworth)

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the heads under which Wandsworth Borough has received money to help tackle crime; and how much was received in each year between 1997 and 2003.

John Denham: The table outlines the levels of funding that have been provided to Wandsworth Borough under crime reduction initiatives since 1997.
	
		£
		
			 Name of project/allocation 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Total 
		
		
			  CCTV—projects in Lennox Estate, St. George's Hospital and Battersea Park extension 
			 Allocation — 131,000 180,000 — — 311,000 
			  Reducing Burglary Initiative—projects targeting the over 60s, Balham Ward and West Putney Ward 
			 Allocation — 22,300 29,300 — — 51,600 
			
			 Street Wardens  
			 Allocation — — 48,000 198,000 199,000 445,000 
			
			 Street Crime Wardens 
			 Allocation — — — 123,210 399,130 522,340 
			
			 Partnership Development Fund
			 Allocation — 11,050 50,000 40,000 — 101,050 
			
			 Communities Against Drugs 
			 Allocation — — 274,100 274,100 — 548,200 
			
			  Communities Against Drugs Street Crime Funding 
			 Allocation — — — 454,978 — 454,978 
			
			 Safer Communities Initiative 
			 Allocation — — — 126,727 — 126,727 
			
			 Total 24,232,000 23,911,350 25,275,400 26,568,015 598,130  
		
	
	Further to the funding in the table, allocations of £414,147 and £343,155 have been made to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and Basic Command Units respectively for 2003–04. This does not include funding provided to the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) to fund policing in London, including Wandsworth.

Criminal Records Bureau

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his department has paid Capita plc for work on Criminal Records Bureau checks; how much work is outstanding; and what penalty clause arrangements apply and on what basis.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 7 January 2003
	Since 11 March 2002 when the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) launched its disclosure service, Capita Plc has been paid a total of £15,737,771.87 for their work on CRB checks. This figure includes the costs associated with processing registration applications, counter-signatory applications and disclosures.
	The CRB has received some 1,284,891 disclosure applications and has issued 1,058,572 disclosures. This leaves a total of 226,819 that have not been completed, although a substantial number of these are back with customers to provide missing information.
	There is provision under the terms of the contract between Capita and the Home Office for penalties for delay or poor performance. Capita has incurred liquidated damages although the details remain commercial in confidence. The main priority is for the CRB and Capita to collaborate in order to achieve further improvement in the quality of service. Capita shares operational responsibility with the CRB agency and the police for the delivery of the CRB service.

Fraud and Theft

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been lost by his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies through (a) fraud and (b) theft for each year since 1996–97.

David Blunkett: The money lost by the Home Office, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies through fraud and theft is set out in the table:
	
		£000
		
			 Accounting period Fraud Theft Total 
		
		
			 1996–97 (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 1997–98 13 100 113 
			 1998–99 84 104 188 
			 1999–2000 140 230 370 
			 2000–01 47 117 164 
			 2001–02 109 34 143 
		
	
	(1) Information is not readily available.
	The Home Office has a comprehensive anti-fraud and corruption policy and a response plan that is applied rigorously. All cases of reported fraud and theft are investigated with follow-up action taken, which includes prosecution where appropriate.

Industrial Action/Illness

Mr. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many working days have been lost in his Department and its predecessors owing to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in each year since 1997–98.

David Blunkett: holding answer 4 February 2003
	Four days (by 69 staff) were lost to industrial action in the Home Office and its agencies during 1997–98. No days have been lost to industrial action in the Home Office and its agencies during subsequent years.
	The average number of lost working days owing to sickness in the Home Office and its agencies is as follows:
	1997—11.4 working days
	1998—10.4 working days
	1999—11.1 working days
	2000—11.2 working days
	2001—8.0 working days.
	The figures for 2002 are not currently available.

Scottish Executive

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place for co-ordinating emergency planning guidance and procedures with the Scottish Executive.

David Blunkett: Emergency planning in Scotland is a devolved responsibility. The devolved administrations are involved in the relevant cabinet committees and sub-committees dealing with emergency planning in the UK, and thus have a full opportunity for appropriate input at strategic level.
	The core guidance document for contingency planning arrangements for Scotland, including assessment, prevention, planning response and recovery is "Dealing With Disaster Together" (Scottish Executive Justice Department). This draws heavily on the guidance for England and Wales, "Dealing With Disaster" (Third edition).
	Formal consultation arrangements are in place at management and editorial levels between the Cabinet Office Civil contingencies Secretariat and the Scottish Executive Justice Department to ensure that any alterations or addenda to either document are made only after full consideration and input from either party.
	"Dealing with Disaster" is currently being updated to reflect changes in data, legislation and Lead Government guidance. The Scottish Executive Justice Department has been given full access to proposed changes so that these, where appropriate, can be incorporated into its core guidance.

Terrorism

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made under the Terrorism Act 2000.

David Blunkett: On the latest information available 335 people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Terrorism

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with (a) MI5 and (b) other intelligence organisations concerning current al-Qaeda terrorist cells within the UK concerning their location and number of operatives.

David Blunkett: It is longstanding Government policy not to discuss Security Service investigations and operations. I am in regular contact with the Director General of the Security Service and am kept fully informed of the service's assessment of the extent of terrorist activity in the United Kingdom.

Terrorism

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what representations have been received by his Department concerning links between (a) Abu Hamza, (b) Osama bin Laden and (c) the al-Qaeda organisation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations his Department has received concerning the extent of support for Osama bin Laden from (a) organised groups and (b) individuals within the United Kingdom.

David Blunkett: My Department regularly receives representations on a whole range of counterterrorist issues, including those individuals or organisations where concerns have been raised. I have already made clear that the activities of people such as Abu Hamza are closely monitored. Anyone breaking the law and inciting violence, whether under the provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000, Race Relations Act 1976 as amended by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 or the Criminal Justice Public Order Act 1994, will be prosecuted. Decisions on this are for the prosecuting authorities. I would not want to state anything publicly that would make their job more difficult.

Terrorism

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to apprehend individuals and organisations within the UK spreading (a) pro-terror and (b) anti-British propaganda; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what information he has collated on the extent to which al-Qaeda propaganda has been promoted within the United Kingdom since 11 September 2001.

David Blunkett: The police and the Security Service take all threats seriously and attach a high priority to monitoring and countering any possible activities in the country by foreign extremists. Any credible information is fully investigated. An investigation which yields evidence that an organisation or individuals are supporting terrorism will result in action being taken.

CABINET OFFICE

Congestion Charge

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what arrangements have been made in respect of payment of congestion charge costs incurred by the Leader of the Opposition when using his official car.

Douglas Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Fraud

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been lost by his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies through (a) fraud and (b) theft for each year since 1996–97.

Charles Clarke: An estimate of the cost of theft and fraud to my Department since 1996–97 is as follows:
	
		£000
		
			 Year Theft Fraud Total 
		
		
			 1996–97 15 199 214 
			 1997–98 22 3,816 3,838 
			 1998–99 94 5,716 5,810 
			 1999–2000 7 4,548 4,555 
			 2000–01 3 17,327 17,330 
			 2001–02 8 70,069 70,077 
			 Total 149 101,675 101,824 
		
	
	The figure on fraud for 2001–02 includes an estimate of some £67 million relating to serious irregularity and fraud in respect of individual learning accounts.
	Information on NDPBs is not collected centrally.

Student Finance (Wales)

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about the transfer of powers for student finance in Wales to the Assembly.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 29 January 2003
	I meet the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales from time to time in the course of normal business. I have had preliminary discussions with both the First Minister and Minister for Education and Life Long Learning in the Welsh Assembly Government about the proposals contained in my White Paper and its implications for Wales.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Convention on the Future of Europe

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Convention on the Future of Europe; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The recommendations of the Convention on the Future of Europe are likely to be in the form of a draft constitutional treaty. This will be discussed in an Inter-Governmental Conference, where decisions will be taken by Heads of State or Government, acting by unanimity. The outcome will be put to Parliament before ratification.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 17 December 2002 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Arkhand.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 29 January 2003 to my right hon. Friend's letter of 17 December 2002 concerning his constituent Mr. Arkhand. We are in touch with the constituent concerned and we are taking immediate action on the matter.

Export Licences

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures will be taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure equipment exported under export licences for HMX pellets and synchros used as an inspection tool on Tay 650 engines to power Fokker 100 aircraft will not be diverted for military purposes for use by the Iranian military or security forces.

Mike O'Brien: The Government has made clear its commitment to effective monitoring of the end-use of defence exports, including to Iran. The most effective way to do this is through rigorous assessment at the export licensing stage. Both the synchros and the HMX pellets do have a possible military use. However HMG is as satisfied as we reasonably can be that both of these items are intended only for the legitimate end-use stated. We judged that the risk of these goods being diverted for use by the Iranian military was minimal.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Gibraltar will be included in a referendum on the Single European Currency.

Denis MacShane: The Government's policy on membership of the single currency is clear. The Five Economic Tests will define whether a clear and unambiguous case for the UK membership of EMU can be made. If, on the basis of the five tests assessment, the Government decides to recommend UK entry, it will be put to a vote in Parliament and then to a referendum of the British people. Parliament would decide the details of any referendum, as part of the legislation needed to hold the referendum.

Kosovo

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy of Her Majesty's Government is on the protection of churches by KFOR troops in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: holding answer 6 February 2003
	Britain, along with its international partners, is working to ensure that Kosovo develops as a tolerant, multi-ethnic society. The security of churches and other religious and cultural sites in Kosovo is important to the success of this effort. British soldiers, as part of our contribution to the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), play an active role in protecting these sites. These arrangements are reviewed regularly by KFOR in the light of the security situation prevailing at the time, and in full consultation with the local and regional authorities.

Ricin

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received concerning the manufacture of ricin in the UK and the al Qaeda terrorist network.

David Blunkett: I have been asked to reply.
	I understand that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received no direct representations concerning the manufacture of ricin in the United Kingdom and the al Qaeda terrorist network. But the Government continues to have regular discussions with our Coalition partners about a wide range of al Qaeda-related security issues affecting the UK.

TREASURY

Child Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to reduce child poverty by 25 per cent.between 1998–99 and 2004–05 on an after housing costs basis; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government has a PSA target to reduce the number of children in low-income households by a quarter by 2004–05 compared with 1998–99, as a contribution towards the broader target of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020. The technical note for this PSA, published on DWP and HMT websites, provides details. Low-income households are defined as those with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median income. Progress is being measured on both a before housing costs and an after housing costs basis.

Higgs Report

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to implement the findings of the Higgs report; and if he will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	Derek Higgs' recommendations reflect a very thorough consultation process. Most of the recommendations are for changes to the Combined Code. The Financial Reporting Council, which has responsibility for the code, has invited comments by 14 April on the detailed drafting with a view to putting a revised code into effect on 1 July 2003. The Government welcome this. It will then be for listed companies to comply with the new provisions or explain to shareholders why they have not done so.
	A group is being formed under the leadership of Professor Laura Tyson, Dean of the London Business School, to consider how to bring to greater prominence candidates who could make an effective contribution to boards of listed companies. The group will report to me in May.
	The City of London Law Society and Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, together with the Association of British Insurers and the British Insurance Brokers' Association, will be developing guidance on directors' and officers' insurance.

Non-Executive Directors

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the timetable for implementation of the recommendations laid out in the Higgs report on non-executive directors.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	Most of the recommendations in Derek Higgs' report are for changes to the Combined Code. Derek Higgs expressed the hope that the changes would be introduced as soon as practically possible, preferably for reporting years starting on or after 1 July 2003. The Financial Reporting Council has invited comments by 14 April on the detailed drafting with a view to putting a revised code into effect on 1 July 2003 as suggested by Derek Higgs. The Government welcome this. It will then be for listed companies to comply with the new provisions or explain to shareholders why they have not done so.
	A group of business leaders and others is being formed under the leadership of Professor Laura Tyson, Dean of the London Business School, to consider how to bring to greater prominence candidates who could make an effective contribution to boards of listed companies. The group will report to me in May.
	The City of London Law Society and Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, together with the Association of British Insurers and the British Insurance Brokers' Association, will be developing guidance on directors' and officers' insurance.
	We will give careful consideration to Derek Higgs' recommendation as regards indemnifying directors in advance against costs of defending proceedings from the company itself, in the context of our wider reform of company law. The Lord Chancellor's Department is promoting active case management, as suggested in the report. We will ensure that the recommendation on considering the checklist in relation to new criminal sanctions on directors is drawn to the attention of those who may consider such legislation.
	Other recommendations are directed at individuals or boards or institutional investors. It will be for them to take forward the useful suggestions made.

Public Liability Insurance Premiums

Diana Organ: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average percentage increase in public liability insurance premiums was in 2002–03.

Ruth Kelly: We are aware of concerns about increases in public liability insurance premiums experienced by firms. Public liability insurance is one element of the fact-finding study on liability insurance that the Office of Fair Trading is currently undertaking. We do not routinely collect data on public liability insurance premiums.

Telephone Helplines

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

John Healey: The Treasury has two telephone helplines: the National Euro Helpline, which appears on the Treasury's euro web site www.euro.gov.uk and is available to the public at the local rate; and an internal incident line for Treasury staff, calls to which are free.
	The Inland Revenue has 43 helplines. 28 of these are charged at the local rate, 14 geographically and one is a freephone number. The full list can be found on the Inland Revenue's website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.
	HM Customs and Excise has 12 telephone helplines, nine of which are charged at the national rate, and three at the local rate.
	The Office for National Statistics has nine helplines, eight of which are charged at the national rate and one at the local rate. Details are available on the National Statistics website at www.statistics.gov.uk.
	Telephone helplines for National Savings and Investments were outsourced to Siemens Business Services in 1999, following the Public Private Partnership. National Savings and Investments currently has five customer helplines, including a textphone and two local rate business helplines. All customer helplines are free or charged at the local rate.
	The Office of Government Commerce has four telephone helplines, three of which are charged at the local rate and one that is a standard central London number. The Royal Mint has 27 telephone helplines, 23 of which are charged at the national rate, three at the local rate, one at freephone rate and none at the premium rate. The Office for National Statistics has nine helplines, eight of which are charged at the national rate and one at the local rate. Details are available on the National Statistics website at www.statistics.gov.uk.
	Telephone helplines for National Savings and Investments were outsourced to Siemens Business Services in 1999, following the Public Private Partnership. National Savings and Investments currently has five customer helplines, including a textphone and two local rate business helplines. All customer helplines are free or charged at the local rate.
	The Office of Government Commerce has four telephone helplines, three of which are charged at the local rate and one that is a standard central London number.
	The Royal Mint has 27 telephone helplines, 23 of which are charged at thenational rate, three at the local rate, one at freephone rate and none at the premium rate.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the departmental expenditure limits are in her Department's (a) resource and (b) capital budget for (i) environmental protection, (ii) food, fishing and farming, (iii) land use and rural affairs, (iv) animal health and welfare, (v) operations and service delivery and (vi) executive agencies for (A) 2001–02, (B) 2002–03, (C) 2003–04, (D) 2004–05 and (E) 2005–06.

Alun Michael: The information for 2001–02 and 2002–03 is as follows:
	
		Departmental expenditure limits -- £000
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 
			  Resource Capital Resource Capital 
		
		
			 Environmental Protection 319,463 264,569 409,767 279,685 
			 Food, Farming and Fisheries 89,059 11,373 106,949 12,014 
			 Land Use and Rural Affairs 287,615 155,784 291,060 170,993 
			 Animal Health and Welfare 163,664 9,946 169,907 17,226 
			 Operations and Service Delivery 477,424 -115 290,643 24,368 
			 Executive Agencies 433,079 37,209 405,373 64,221 
		
	
	Budgets for future years have not yet been finalised.

Equine Passports

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates her Department has received of the cost of disposing of horses that (a) might enter the food chain and (b) will not enter the food chain.

Elliot Morley: The Department has not received any estimates for the cost of disposing of horses via the food chain. Horse carcases that are not intended for human consumption are normally disposed of via knacker yards or hunt kennels. We understand that knacker yard charges are in the region of £100 for animals that are shot and around £140 for injected animals. The cost of disposing of animal carcases via hunt kennels varies from area to area. Many hunts subsidise their service and impose little or no cost.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost to her Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002.

Alun Michael: The cost of external consultants in 2002 was £39 million. This figure includes costs for core-Defra, the Rural Payments Agency, the pesticides Safety Directorate, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Central Science Laboratory, the Veterinary Laboratory Agency and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

National Park (South Downs)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the completion of the National Park designation process for the South Downs.

Alun Michael: The timetable will depend on whether or not the Secretary of State calls a public inquiry into the designation order submitted by the Countryside Agency. This will be determined when all objections and representations received have been considered after the period for public consultation on the order ends on 28 February. If, as is anticipated, an inquiry is required, then it will probably be 2006 when the Secretary of State is able to decide whether or not to confirm the designation order. A full National Park authority, if it were decided to establish one, would probably come into being the following year. If there were no public inquiry, the decision on the designation order could be made this year.

Right of Access

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the right of access available to areas for which an entrance fee has been payable, but which meet the criteria for open country under the provisions of the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 provides a power for landowners and tenants to close land for any reason for up to 28 days each year. The Act also makes provision for any person with an interest in land to apply to their relevant authority (the Countryside Agency, or, in national parks, the National Park Authority) to restrict or exclude access on the grounds of land management, public safety or to avoid the risk of fire. It would be open to landowners who before the Act charged a fee for entrance to their land to apply to their relevant authority for a restriction or exclusion of access to enable them to continue to charge for entry to that land but would have to show that one of the three criteria is met.
	On our behalf, the Countryside Agency is developing guidance for relevant authorities on the operation of the restrictions and exclusions system. It is considering what guidance to give relevant authorities on applications for restrictions and exclusions of access for the purpose of charging a fee for entry to the land.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

BNFL

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on providing security for shipments of radioactive material by BNFL in the last year for which figures are available.

Brian Wilson: The costs involved in transporting radioactive material, including the costs of ensuring that appropriate levels of physical protection are applied to the material during transport, are a commercial matter for the companies involved. Where radioactive material transport is carried out by BNFL pursuant to contracts concluded with external customers, the transport costs are reflected in the value of the contract.

BNFL

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of BNFL will be after the establishment of the Liabilities Management Authority .

Brian Wilson: Decisions on the capital structure of BNFL will be taken after legislation has been agreed by Parliament to set up the Liabilities Management Authority.

BNFL

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what controls she intends to put in place to prevent BNFL from using funds available to it for investments tangential to its primary function.

Brian Wilson: BNFL operates within a strategic framework set by Government. How it invests commercially generated funds within that framework is a matter for the company.

Fuel Poverty

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors she estimates were responsible for the increases in severe fuel poverty between 1996 and 1998 as demonstrated in Table 13 of "Fuel Poverty in England in 1998".

Brian Wilson: The number of fuel poor households in England is estimated to have fallen by one million between 1996 and 1998, from 4.3 million in 1996 to 3.3 million in 1998. Most of this reduction is thought to be due to changes in energy prices and incomes.
	It is recognised that for those in severe fuel poverty improvements in energy efficiency will be needed to remove these households from fuel poverty. Improvements, and increased funding, for the key programmes to improve energy efficiency were put in place after 1998.
	The figures for 1998 were based on a relatively small sample, and data for 2001 based on a larger sample from the 2001 English House Condition Survey will become available shortly, and will be published on the internet at www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fuel poverty/index.shtml

Audit and Accounting

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to appoint women to the implementation unit on audit and accounting reforms.

Patricia Hewitt: A steering group will direct the practical implementation of the conclusions of the Review of the Regulatory Regime of the Accountancy Profession. It is a short term, working arrangement on which those currently heading the major regulatory bodies affected by review have agreed to serve.
	The Government are keen to promote meritocracy and diversity among those charged with delivering independent regulation of the accountancy and audit professions. I have accepted the recommendations of the review that there should be open advertisement of all board positions in the new structure of the Financial Reporting Council, which will incorporate the responsibilities of the current Accountancy Foundation. This will allow those responsible for board appointments to consider the widest field of candidates—including women—who may be suitable for the post in question.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of her Department's spending on assistance to the coal industry in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04 (planned).

Brian Wilson: The following table shows Government financial support for the coal industry from 1990–91 to 2002–03. These figures exclude the impact of debt write-offs and proceeds at the privatisation of British Coal and payments made in respect of inherited liabilities following that privatisation, such as health claims.
	A budget for spending on assistance to the coal industry for 2003–04 has not been finalised. Given that final decisions have yet to be made on a number of potential measures, each of which could significantly affect the size of the budget, it would be unrealistic at present to give a firm estimate on projected spending for 2003–04.
	
		Government financial support for the Coal Industry -- £ million
		
			 Financial Year Total grants 
		
		
			 1990–91 141 
			 1991–92 457 
			 1992–93 645 
			 1993–94 424 
			 1994–95 205 
			 1995–96 0 
			 1996–97 0 
			 1997–98 0 
			 1998–99 0 
			 1999–2000 0 
			 2000–01 76.5 
			 2001–02 61.6 
			 2002–03 (2)23.9 
		
	
	(2) This is an estimated figure. Part of the expenditure forecast for financial year 2002–03 may slip into 2003–04.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what her estimate is of her Department's actual spending and planned spending on the 50 Best Companies to Work For list; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what her estimate is of her Department's spending on the Work Life Balance campaign in each year from 2000–01 to 2003–04; what benefits have arisen from this campaign; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The UK Government are committed to making the UK the best place to do business and to raising UK productivity and prosperity for all. This can only be achieved by recognising every aspect responsible for performance including work organisation and human resource management.
	The Department has therefore been happy to be associated with and support the Best Companies To Work For Project with the Sunday Times. In 2001 this produced a 50 Best UK Companies to Work for List. In 2002 due to the rise in popularity this was expanded to the Top 100 UK Companies to Work For. Since the project started, in 1999, we have spent in the region of £500,000, which includes £100,000 committed for the 2003 Top UK Companies to Work for List. The surveys involved have been substantial and the generation of the 2003 list has included surveying over 47,000 employees. The project plans to announce the 2003 winners at the end of this month. We are also planning to spend some money on dissemination of the results of the survey but the sums involved are subject to further consideration.
	The Top 100 UK Companies to Work For is just one part of the Work-Life Balance Campaign. The campaign was launched by the Prime Minister in 2000 to persuade employers to introduce ways of working which meet the needs of business and customers while simultaneously improving the work-life balance of their employees.
	Spending on the Campaign has been in the region of £11.3 million since 2000. The costs per year are:
	2000–01: £2.5 million
	2001–02: £4.4 million
	2003–04: £4.4 million
	The campaign has successfully delivered substantial benefits including:
	Adding to the growing body of research including publication of the Work-Life Balance 2000 baseline study of work-life balance practices in Great Britain, involving 2,500 employers and 7,500 employees;
	Support for over 400 private, voluntary and public sector organisations through the Challenge Fund;
	A very well used website providing information, guidance and case studies. The site received an average of 6,000 'hits' a day over the last eight months and much positive feedback from users;
	Completion of a highly successful international study tour in 2002 which culminated in the extremely well attended and received 'Improving Life at Work Conference' which I was delighted to open in January this year.
	The Work-Life Balance Campaign complements the legislation we are introducing from April this year as part of the Employment Act aimed at helping Working Parents.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of her Department's expenditure on the automotive industry in each year from 1990–91 to 2004–05 (planned), if she will give a breakdown down for each year to show the origin of investments and grant-aid of over £1 million per year; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: Since 1990, total commitments of grant aid to the automotive industry in the form of Regional Selective Assistance have totalled some £330 million. A table detailing the totals, broken down by year, is attached.
	The Department has also committed grants totalling £9.9 million to SMMT Industry Forum since 1996, and around £7.3 million to Foresight Vehicle since 1997. £45 million has been committed to future funding of the Automotive Innovation and Growth Team report initiatives.
	
		Number and value of RSA payments made in Great Britain in the Automotive Sector from 1 April 1990 to 31 March 2002
		
			  Less than £1 million Greater or equal to £1 million 
			 Year Number Value of offers (£000) Number Value ofoffers (£000) 
		
		
			 1990–91 78 4,266 12 15,839 
			 1991–92 62 3,105 13 29,245 
			 1992–93 48 3,926 12 11,450 
			 1993–94 59 5,863 19 19,053 
			 1994–95 61 4,198 18 10,958 
			 1995–96 74 5,664 18 8,383 
			 1996–97 78 5,288 17 11,775 
			 1997–98 67 5,802 21 26,152 
			 1998–99 75 6,269 19 35,845 
			 1999–2000 54 3,471 11 29,120 
			 2000–01 52 4,543 17 42,998 
			 2001–02 35 4,146 16 32,199 
			 Total 743 56,540 193 273,017

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of her Department's spending on aerospace and defence grants and launch investment in each year from 1995–96 to 2004–05 (planned); and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The Government continue to be supportive of the aerospace industry in the UK. The Department's principle support to the civil aerospace sector is provided through the Aeronautics Research Programme (formerly known as CARAD) and through repayable launch investment. Expenditure on research and development to meet the UK's defence needs is a matter for the Ministry of Defence.
	For civil aeronautics research, the value of grants paid from April 1995 through to March 2002 totalled over £145 million, averaging over £20 million per year. Forecast expenditure for the period April 2002 to March 2005 is also expected to exceed £20 million annually. Since April 1995 we have also committed in the order of £1 billion in launch investment for major new aircraft and engine projects. Annual expenditure under these programmes can be found in the Department's annual Expenditure Plans report which is available on the DTI's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/expenditureplan/ or from the House of Commons Library.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 16 May 2002 the establishment of the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (IGT), led by Sir Richard Evans.
	The IGT will draw on the expertise of the major aerospace stakeholders to identify the key issues, including support to the sector, which will shape the future of the industry. The IGT will make recommendations to the Prime Minister in spring 2003 as to how the UK can best respond to the competitive challenges it will face over the next 20 years. However, an interim report from the IGT is hosted on the SBAC's website at http://www.sbac.co.uk/newsview.asp Copies of the report will be placed in the House of Commons Library in due course.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of her Department's spending on the nuclear fusion programme in each year from 2001–02 to 2004–05 (planned).

Brian Wilson: The Department of Trade and Industry's funding for fusion for the period 2001–02 was £14.63 million. From April 2003 onwards the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will have responsibility for funding fusion, their spending from 2003 to 2005 is expected to be in the region of £15 million-£17 million per annum.

Departmental Staff

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) women aged over 55 years old, broken down into ethnic group and (b) people registered as disabled are employed in her Department.

Patricia Hewitt: We collect ethnic and disability data on a voluntary basis. The information given as follows was extracted from our personnel records database and gives the position in DTI headquarters as of 31 December 2002.
	(a) There were 197 women aged over 55-years-old—their ethnic origin is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of women aged over 55-years-old Ethnic origin 
		
		
			 9 Asian 
			 17 Black 
			 5 Mixed race 
			 5 Other 
			 97 White 
			 64 Unknown 
		
	
	(b) 303 people have told the Department that they have a disability.

Electricity

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation there has been regarding the extension of the use of coal mine methane emissions for electricity in the UK.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 6 February 2003
	This issue was covered in the Energy White Paper Consultation and the Government have given consideration to the responses they have received. Their conclusions will be made public when the White Paper is published.

Energy Industry

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will hold discussions with Ofgem on the scope of the reasons permitting energy suppliers to refuse compensation.

Brian Wilson: DTI and Ofgem have been and are continuing to work together closely on all aspects of the post storm review. As part of the upcoming distribution price review, Ofgem will be reviewing the existing standards of performance arrangements including the appropriate level of the standards and associated compensation payments and the scope and form of exemptions.

Export Licences (Sudan)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what companies made export control applications to export to Sudan in the last five years; what specific items these companies applied for to export to Sudan; and what the outcome was of each of these applications.

Nigel Griffiths: Details of export licence applications from particular companies are normally commercially confidential and exempt from disclosure under categories 13 and 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Lost Working Days

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many working days were lost in her Department due to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 6 February 2003
	In DTI headquarters no working days have been lost due to industrial action since 1997.
	The average number of staff days lost due to illness per staff year in the DTI Group have been:
	
		
			  Days lost 
		
		
			 1997 8.2 
			 1998 8.0 
			 1999 7.8 
			 2000 7.5 
			 2001 7.8 
		
	
	The DTI Group, in addition to DTI HQ, consists of ACAS, Companies House, Patent Office, Insolvency Service, National Weights and Measures Laboratory, Employment Tribunals Service and the Radiocommunications Agency. The figures are taken from the annual reports on public sector sick absence commissioned by the Cabinet Office each year and which enable interdepartmental comparison. Central figures for 2002 will not be available for some months but will be announced by ministerial statement and copies placed in the Library of the House.

LPG Suppliers

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what steps she has taken to investigate the cost of changing suppliers of liquid petroleum gas;
	(2)  what arrangements are in place to prevent price-fixing between suppliers of liquid petroleum gas.

Brian Wilson: It is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) to keep markets under review. He has the power to investigate anti-competitive behaviour including, any anti-competitive agreements or abuse of dominant market position in the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) market.
	Any evidence of anti-competitive behaviour should be sent to the DGFT.

Ministerial Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the total cost of (a) ministerial salaries, (b) ministerial offices and (c) other ministerial costs in her Department for the latest year for which information is available.

Patricia Hewitt: The total cost of ministerial salaries in this Department for the year 2001–02 was £233,593. The total cost of ministerial offices and other ministerial costs in this Department of the financial year 2001–02 was £2,692,407. This figure includes all private office staff salaries, office running costs, and ministerial travel.

Nuclear Industry

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library declassified documentation from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on the use to which reprocessed plutonium, arising from fuel imported from the Magnox reactors sold by the United Kingdom to Italy and Japan, was put.

Brian Wilson: I understand from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority that more than 200 declassified files relating to fuel contracts with Italy and Japan have been placed in the Public Records Office and are available for public scrutiny.

Post Office Network (Subsidy)

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total public subsidy to the (a) rural and (b) urban post office network is.

Stephen Timms: The Government regards it as most important that all communities have good access to postal and Government services and they have committed to doing all they can to ensure a viable Post Office network for the future. We are investing very substantial sums in supporting this transformation of the network—some £2 billion in total over the next five years, including £450 million funding to support the rural network until 2006.
	On the rural network, the Government have:
	Made a firm commitment to prevent avoidable rural closures before 2006.
	Made available a £2 million fund to support community post office initiatives.
	Will make available £450 million (£150 million a year) for the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06 to help to continue to provide access to services in rural areas where they could not otherwise be sustained on a commercial basis. (This funding is part of the overall financing package for the Royal Mail Group, announced in June 2002.)
	On the urban network, the Government have:
	Provided £210 million in total for the reinvention programme.
	Made available £15 million for a scheme to support offices invaluable to the community in deprived urban areas throughout England. Similar schemes have been launched in Scotland and Wales.
	The Government have also invested in the IT infrastructure of the business. £480 million of Government support was invested in the Horizon project, one of the UK's largest computerisation projects, which has automated every post office in the network.

Reprocessing (Sellafield)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to end reprocessing at Sellafield.

Brian Wilson: No.